2019 NOMINATIONS OPEN SOONSTAY TUNED!

2019 NOMINATIONS OPEN SOONSTAY TUNED!

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ESTABLISHED. PRESTIGIOUS. INDEPENDENT.

Now in its sixth year, the Canadian HR Awards has become the biggest and most prestigious showcase of excellence in the HR sector in Canada.

By recognizing the companies and individuals across the entire spectrum of human resources and celebrating the industry's successes, the Canadian HR Awards continues to inspire an industry fostered on leadership, service, innovation, support and principle, all of which have continuously driven the industry forward.

Our winners and finalists deserve the night of their lives – and that’s what we give them. Our annual black-tie gala brings together a stellar community of the biggest names in the industry, past award recipients and rising stars throughout Canada. Over 720 professionals attended last year’s gala.

The Canadian HR Awards is brought to you by Ultimate Software in partnership with HRD Canada, the resource of choice for the country's most forward-thinking HR professionals. Winners and finalists will be showcased in HRD magazine and online, as well as selected national media outlets.

If you want to show the nation how great you, your team and your organization are – or you want to nominate a fellow professional who has gone above and beyond in the past year – then nominate now. It only takes a few minutes!

2018 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

WATCH 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

FEATURED 2018 WINNERS

TESTIMONIALS

„

I’ve been doing this for 27 years, and I’m thrilled there’s a groundswell when it comes to the attention businesses are putting on their people.

Laura Williams, Williams HR Law

We’re really excited to have won the award. It’s great to be recognized for all the work we’re doing to create an inclusive culture in the organization.

Sandeep Tatla, Manulife

It’s pretty cool to get an award for being disruptive in the space. We like to take whatever HR does – and do the complete opposite!

Manu Varma, Traction on Demand

It’s a great way for me to cap my 40-year career at RBC and 20 years in human resources. In many ways, it’s a way for me to also recognize my team, people that I work with now and worked with before, who are really a part of the award.

Zabeen Hirji, Royal Bank of Canada (retired)

BEN MULRONEY

ASCENSION GROOVE BAND

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Awards

Attendees

Nita ChhinzerAssociate Professor in Human Resources Management, University at Guelph

Nita Chhinzer is currently an Associate Professor of Human Resources at the Department of Management, University of Guelph

Nita is a recognized expert on leadership and human resource management in Canada. In May 2012, she was awarded the prestigious five-year Fellowship in Leadership, HRM and Work at the University of Guelph. She authored three textbooks used in graduate, professional and undergraduate business programs (including Canada’s best-selling Introductory Human Resource Management book), and served as the Chair of the HRM division at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada from 2009 to 2011.

Her research is concentrated on Strategic Human Resources Management, with a strong focus on downsizing practices, procedures and ethics. She has gained international recognition with conference participation including Athens, Greece, Paris, France, and many North American speaking engagements.

Highly engaged in community partnerships, Nita is on the Board of Directors at the Guelph District Human Resource Professional Association, and is an Executive on the Women's Leadership Forum at the Mississauga Board of Trade.

ESTABLISHED. PRESTIGIOUS. INDEPENDENT.

Now in its sixth year, the Canadian HR Awards has become the biggest and most prestigious showcase of excellence in the HR sector in Canada.

By recognizing the companies and individuals across the entire spectrum of human resources and celebrating the industry's successes, the Canadian HR Awards continues to inspire an industry fostered on leadership, service, innovation, support and principle, all of which have continuously driven the industry forward.

Our winners and finalists deserve the night of their lives – and that’s what we give them. Our annual black-tie gala brings together a stellar community of the biggest names in the industry, past award recipients and rising stars throughout Canada. Over 720 professionals attended last year’s gala.

The Canadian HR Awards is brought to you by Ultimate Software in partnership with HRD Canada, the resource of choice for the country's most forward-thinking HR professionals. Winners and finalists will be showcased in HRD magazine and online, as well as selected national media outlets.

If you want to show the nation how great you, your team and your organization are – or you want to nominate a fellow professional who has gone above and beyond in the past year – then nominate now. It only takes a few minutes!

BEN MULRONEY

ASCENSION GROOVE BAND

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Awards

Attendees

Awards

Team / Organizational Awards

The Accompass Award for HR Team of the Year (MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES)

This award recognizes the most outstanding HR team of the year, in an organization with 500 employees or more in Canada. This team has excelled within the HR function and across their business as a whole, by partnering with different business functions. This award focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the HR function as a whole.

Criteria:

Evidence of a well­rounded and integrated HR team effort, showing excellence in talent acquisition and management, leadership, learning and development, health and wellness, benefits and administration

Team contribution and implementation of specific HR initiatives

Team effectiveness in delivering cost effective HR services

Team contribution to employee productivity and achievement of company goals

This award recognizes the most outstanding HR team of the year with fewer than 500 employees or in Canada. This team has excelled within the HR function and across their business as a whole, by partnering with different business functions. This award focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the HR function as a whole.

Criteria:

Evidence of a well­rounded and integrated HR team effort, showing excellence in talent acquisition and management, leadership, learning and development, health and wellness, benefits and administration

Team contribution and implementation of specific HR initiatives

Team effectiveness in delivering cost effective HR services

Team contribution to employee productivity and achievement of company goals

This award recognizes the character and personality of your organization. It's what makes your organization unique and is the sum of its values, traditions, beliefs, interactions, behaviors and attitudes.

Criteria:

Outline of company’s values, beliefs and attitudes that are ingrained in your company’s DNA. What is the history and rationale behind your company’s culture?

Evidence of how the above are being practiced by employees on all levels of the organization including senior management, mid management and entry-level/frontline employees

Overview of company’s unique traditions and rituals, and how these are being carried out on a regular and long-term basis

Summary of concrete stories, specific examples and any other relevant data that showcases how your company’s culture helps support both business and corporate strategies of the company

Feel free to use any other creative ways of showcasing your company’s unique culture to our judges!

How prospective employees feel about your Employer Brand ultimately determines whether your company is a great place to work at or not. This award recognises the HR team that has developed, implemented or participated in the most compelling Employer Branding initiative or campaign.

Criteria:

Concrete evidence showcasing how HR is being one of the key contributors in communicating a business’s brand identity

Demonstrated excellence in delivering and communicating a unique and relevant employee value proposition. This could relate to social media communication strategy, hiring practices & interview process, positioning current employees as brand ambassadors, etc.

Visible and consistent alignment between company and employer branding

This award recognises excellence and innovation in recruiting and staffing initiatives. Entries could range from specific one-off projects in key areas through to the implementation of new policies covering all resourcing activities.

Criteria:

Outline the recruitment strategy project that was implemented or improved in the last 12 – 18 months

Anecdotal evidence of the drivers behind the recruitment strategy (was it for a specific project, or improving the ongoing recruitment process for example)

Description of tools and platforms used to attract talent (including but not limited to social media, job fairs, etc.)

Alignment of the recruitment strategy with current and future organizational needs

Alignment of the recruitment strategy with the organisation's brand

Demonstrate measurable success and ways in which the initiative benefited the business and met current business objectives

This award recognizes excellence in the area of human capital technology used by an in-house HR team to move the HR Function forward. Technology applications can include but are not limited to - HR software and analytics solutions, online recruitment or e-learning programs.

Criteria:

Outline of the HR Technology implemented or improved in the last 12 – 18 months, including end users

A clear narrative demonstrating the needs identification process for implementation of the technology

Alignment of the use of the technology with the organization’s broader goals

This award recognises and celebrates the HR team that has delivered the most outstanding organisational benefits by directly linking the training needs of their people, at all levels, to the business needs of their organisation.

Criteria:

Outline the Learning & Development Strategy implemented or improved in the last 12 – 18 months, including investment (financially, or through time or resources) in the development of employees across an entire organisation, through training, coaching, mentoring or other learning & development initiatives

Outline of the business case behind the L&D strategy, including ways in which programmes are tailored to suit the different needs of different functions and levels within the business

How was the strategy rolled out /communicated to the workforce

Innovation in the delivery of the Learning & Development service (for example through virtual mentoring, e-learning, software, gamification, etc.)

This award recognizes those organizations that excel in the provision of overall employee well-being which includes the financial, physical and mental wellness of its employees, whilst showing clear evidence of a positive impact on workforce, including reductions in absence levels, and / or improvements in staff engagement and performance.

Finalists will be asked to demonstrate the following:

Evidence of an innovative internal strategy or value proposition that addresses employee wellbeing which has been implemented or improved in the last 12 – 18 months

Evidence that the organization provides for the support of the “triple threat” (physical, financial & mental well­being) to their employees, through total rewards, benefits and compensation, a broad offering of wellness initiatives and in “going the extra mile” to ensure their employees are cared for, financially, physically, financially and mentally.

Evidence of an effective internal communication strategy that drives awareness (and participation...) of policies and programs for the wellness proposition.

This award acknowledges the contributions of a company or individual with a proven track record of providing HR Professionals with the superior service and assistance needed to perform their duties. This award will be determined through nominations as well as an HRM Online poll of the most popular service providers of the year, servicing those working in Human Resources.

Finalists will be invited to submit supporting documentation and testimonials will also be considered.

Judges criteria includes; an explanation of the service their business provides to HR Professionals, how their business adds value to their client, demonstration of a sustained effort and commitment to the HR Industry, repeat and referral business strategy and success.

This award recognises an organisation that has diversity and inclusion at the heart of its business, and that provides programs for employees from five groups including women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and LGBTI community.

Criteria:

Each applicant must have an interesting initiative for at least one of the five above diversity groups implemented within their organization

A clear narrative that demonstrates why the D&I strategy was implemented and how it is linked to broader business strategy

Evidence of the organisation's diversity, inclusion statistics and how these are calculated

Feel free to use any other creative ways of showcasing your company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives including anecdotes, employee/customer feedback and case studies

Recognizing that external / outsourced consultancies play a big role in supporting HR functions within large and small organizations, this award will be given to the external HR Advisor/ Consulting Firm that demonstrates excellence in partnering with and adding value to the client.

For the purpose of this award, “External HR Advisor/Consultancy” is defined as a business or as an individual that has a business model that is based on providing expertise around HR and/or business issues as they relate to people management.

Criteria:

Outline how the advisor/firm has brought significant expertise, creative or innovative thinking to solving a difficult problem or delivering an outstanding project over the last 12-18 months

Demonstration of strong understanding of their client’s business, culture and needs, through the solutions offered to them

Evidence of focus on their client’s long term, strategic objectives

Demonstrated return on investment / quantifiable business benefits for their client

Feel free to use any other creative ways of demonstrating why you should be win this award, including client testimonials!

This award recognizes the CEO who has driven successful HR strategies from the top by putting people first and championing innovative HR values. We invite businesses to nominate their CEO for this Award.

Our judges will be looking for:

Evidence of the CEO’s leadership skills which inspire and engage the workplace

CEO demonstrates commitment to the HR Function as a strategic business objective at the executive management level

CEO actively drives HR initiatives (alongside their HR leader/ team) through open and continuous communication and support

The Ivey Business School Award For Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry

This is the highest honor and most coveted award at the Canadian HR Awards. This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry as a whole through visionary people management strategies and leadership.

We accept nominations in this category, however these are not reviewed by the judging panel, we will conduct extensive face to face and telephone research within the industry to determine the most deserving recipient of this award.

Criteria:

An established history of distinguished service (15 years of more) to the HR profession